Are veneers a qualified medical expense?

Asked by: Alicia Carter  |  Last update: January 6, 2024
Score: 4.7/5 (40 votes)

Dental veneers reimbursement may be eligible with a Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN) from a medical professional with a flexible spending account (FSA), health savings account (HSA), health reimbursement arrangement (HRA) or a limited-purpose flexible spending account (LPFSA).

Are veneers a medical procedure?

Dental veneers are a cosmetic treatment. In other words, they improve your smile, but they don't necessarily strengthen or repair your teeth. While dental crowns can also improve the appearance of your teeth, their main purpose is to restore teeth that are badly damaged by decay or trauma.

What makes veneers medically necessary?

For example, if the teeth to be treated are affected by disease or tooth decay, or if they have been damaged by an accident or injury, then it's possible dental veneers will be considered a restorative treatment. Check with your dentist to determine whether your veneers might be medically necessary.

Why does insurance not cover veneers?

They may, depending on your policy, cover braces, dental implants, and bridges. What dental insurance doesn't tend to cover are cosmetic procedures. And, since dental veneers are often referred to as a cosmetic procedure, they most generally are not covered by dental insurance.

What is a letter of medical necessity for veneers?

If you have an extenuating circumstance, it is possible for your doctor to write a Letter of Medical Necessity, or LMN, that will allow you to pay for dental veneers from your HSA. This letter allows you to cover dental veneers cost with either an FSA, HSA, HRA, or LCSFA.

How do veneers work and how much do they cost?

40 related questions found

Can I write off veneers?

Here are some expenses the IRS does not allow you to deduct:

Dental veneers.

What disqualifies you from getting veneers?

Teeth grinding or clenching may disqualify some patients from getting porcelain veneers. Porcelain material is resistant to stains and chips or cracks, but the pressure exerted by clenching or grinding the teeth can damage them. A custom NIGHTGUARD worn at night can help prevent bruxism (teeth grinding).

How much do veneers cost for a full mouth?

Determining the Full Mouth Veneers Cost

The industry average for a single porcelain veneer ranges from $900 to $2,500 per tooth. Based on that price, a full set of porcelain veneers can range from $7,200 to $20,000.

How long do veneers last?

The lifespan of dental veneers depends on whether you have porcelain or composite veneers, and how well you care for them. Porcelain laminate veneers can last from 10 to 12 years. Composite resin veneers need to be replaced sooner, since they last for around 4 to 8 years.

Can you cover bad teeth with veneers?

Veneers can disguise a multitude of dental defects such as crooked or discolored teeth or cover up unsightly gaps and minor chips. However, veneers are not designed to be effective against bigger issues such as root canal infections, tooth decay or gum disease.

Do your teeth have to be in good condition for veneers?

Of course, as with any cosmetic dentistry treatment, your teeth must be healthy and free from tooth decay before the procedure can be completed. During the initial consultation process, all patients receive an x-ray to ensure that their teeth are suitable for this treatment.

Do you need perfect teeth to get veneers?

If your teeth are only slightly crooked, and if there are no problems with your bite, it's very possible that you can get porcelain veneers. These little covers will reshape your teeth and make them look like they're perfectly straight — no braces required!

Do you need healthy teeth for veneers?

In most cases, anyone looking to change the appearance of their smile might be a candidate for veneers. The veneers can change the color, shape, and size of your natural teeth. While your teeth might not be great in appearance, if you have healthy gums and good bone structure, you are likely good to get veneers.

What happens to teeth under veneers?

Under normal circumstances, teeth should not rot under veneers. As long as your veneers are properly applied and maintained, your natural teeth are well protected. Unfortunately, it's not uncommon for inexperienced or uncaring dentists to apply veneers improperly.

Do dentists file your teeth for veneers?

Porcelain veneers are a tooth-colored covering placed over the front of your teeth. They're an elective procedure, and many people choose to get them to cover up stains or change tooth shape. However, veneer recipients often need to have their teeth filed down for veneers to be placed.

Are real teeth under veneers?

The underlying teeth

Since a dentist only has to remove a small amount of enamel, nerves and roots are never touched. With the veneers in place, the person's natural teeth remain intact. The natural teeth simply serve as the foundation for the new veneers.

How much veneers cost in Canada?

The Cost of Porcelain Veneers

For porcelain veneers, the cost is $925 to $2500 depending on the number of teeth you are applying them on. It is essential to note that the pricing for porcelain veneers is dependent on the number of teeth you want them on.

Do veneers go over back teeth?

You only need veneers for the front of your mouth.

While it is most common and practical to have veneers placed in the six tooth spots that are most visible, they can also be placed on the lower teeth and premolars.

Can you eat normal with veneers?

While most foods are safe to consume with porcelain veneers, you do need to be careful with hard foods like apples, raw carrots, and bone-in meats. It is possible to crack the porcelain when biting down on extremely hard foods, which is why it's generally recommended that you chew these foods with your back teeth.

How many teeth should I get veneers on?

Under most circumstances, veneers are placed over the top teeth, as these are the ones that show most when you smile. If there is a case of dental trauma to just one tooth, then a single veneer may be all that is needed. Conversely, if you are looking for a full smile makeover, anywhere from 4-8 veneers are common.

What is cheaper dentures or veneers?

There are some benefits to using dentures such as the fact that they are easy to clean and so offer better oral health outcomes. The other benefit of dentures is cost. They are relatively cheaper to have than veneers.

How much teeth shaved for veneers?

In most cases, your teeth will require preparation to ensure your veneers fit snugly and smoothly over the fronts of your teeth. A skilled cosmetic dentist will only remove 0.3 mm to 0.5 mm of tooth enamel.

What you can't eat with veneers?

What you should not eat with veneers:
  • Hard foods. Hard candies such as jawbreakers as well as popcorn and nuts can chip the veneers. ...
  • Tough meats. Tough meats such as steak or bone-in meats are difficult to chew. ...
  • Alcohol. Alcohol softens the bonding material. ...
  • Dark-colored drinks. ...
  • Tobacco.

How do you brush your teeth with veneers?

When you have porcelain veneers you need to make sure that you are using a soft toothbrush when you brush your teeth. Hard-bristled toothbrushes can cause the polish on your veneers to become damaged. Try and stay away from toothpastes that have harsh abrasives as they also can cause damage to your veneers.

Do veneers look too fake?

Porcelain veneers are semi-translucent, meaning that light partially passes through them just like natural tooth structure. If veneers have a flat or opaque look, they will appear totally artificial when they are in place. A porcelain veneer that is too opaque might also be the wrong color when in place.